Cyclonic separating apparatus

Abstract

A cyclonic separating apparatus includes a cyclonic separator for separating dirt and dust from an airflow, an inlet to the cyclonic separator and a shroud comprising a wall having a multiplicity of through-holes forming an outlet from the cyclonic separator. The apparatus also includes a plurality of separate passageways provided immediately downstream of the through-holes. By providing this arrangement, the separate passageways can be located around other parts of the cyclonic separating apparatus inwardly of the shroud, allowing for better packaging of the components of the cyclonic separating apparatus. The shroud may be reduced in size because some of the space previously required for a single, large passageway can be used for other components of the cyclonic separating apparatus such a collector or a cyclone. The reduction in size of the shroud in turn allows for the cyclonic separating apparatus to be more compact.

1. A cyclonic separating apparatus, comprising:
 a cyclonic separator for separating dirt and dust from an airflow, an inlet to the cyclonic separator and a shroud comprising a wall having a plurality of through-holes forming an outlet from the cyclonic separator; 
 a plurality of separate passageways provided immediately downstream of the through-holes; and 
 a further cyclonic separator provided downstream of the cyclonic separator and comprising a plurality of cyclones in parallel, 
 wherein at least a part of each cyclone of the further cyclonic separator lies between adjacent passageways. 
 
     
     
       2. The cyclonic separating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the passageways are arranged around the inner circumference of the shroud. 
     
     
       3. The cyclonic separating apparatus of  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the through-holes are arranged in a plurality of separate groups, each group corresponding to a single passageway. 
     
     
       4. The cyclonic separating apparatus of  claim 3 , comprising a further cyclonic separator provided downstream of the cyclonic separator. 
     
     
       5. The cyclonic separating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least a part of each cyclone of the further cyclonic separator lies between adjacent passageways. 
     
     
       6. The cyclonic separating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the further cyclonic separator has a collection area for collecting separated dirt and dust and a plurality of channels for connecting the further cyclonic separator with the collection area. 
     
     
       7. The cyclonic separating apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the collection area and the plurality of channels form a collector for the further cyclonic separator. 
     
     
       8. The cyclonic separating apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising an intermediate cyclonic separator provided downstream of the cyclonic separator and upstream of the further cyclonic separator. 
     
     
       9. The cyclonic separating apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the channels are located between adjacent passageways. 
     
     
       10. The cyclonic separating apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein a common wall separates the passageways from the channels. 
     
     
       11. The cyclonic separating apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising an intermediate cyclonic separator provided downstream of the cyclonic separator and upstream of the further cyclonic separator. 
     
     
       12. The cyclonic separating apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising an intermediate cyclonic separator provided downstream of the cyclonic separator and upstream of the further cyclonic separator. 
     
     
       13. The cyclonic separating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the passageways communicate with an inlet to the further cyclonic separator. 
     
     
       14. A cleaning appliance comprising incorporating the cyclonic separating apparatus of  claim 1 . 
     
     
       15. A vacuum cleaner comprising the cleaning appliance of  claim 14 . 
     
     
       16. A cyclonic separating apparatus, comprising:
 a cyclonic separator for separating dirt and dust from an airflow, an inlet to the cyclonic separator and a shroud comprising a wall having a plurality of through-holes forming an outlet from the cyclonic separator; 
 a plurality of separate passageways provided immediately downstream of the through-holes; 
 a further cyclonic separator provided downstream of the cyclonic separator, and 
 an intermediate cyclonic separator provided downstream of the cyclonic separator and upstream of the further cyclonic separator. 
 
     
     
       17. The cyclonic separating apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the intermediate cyclonic separator is located inwardly of the passageways. 
     
     
       18. The cyclonic separating apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the intermediate cyclonic separator has a collector for collecting separated dirt and dust. 
     
     
       19. The cyclonic separating apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the passageways communicate with an inlet to the intermediate cyclonic separator. 
     
     
       20. The cyclonic separating apparatus of  claim 19 , further comprising a duct located upstream of the inlet to the intermediate cyclonic separator and being in communication with each of the passageways. 
     
     
       21. A cyclonic separating apparatus, comprising:
 a cyclonic separator for separating dirt and dust from an airflow, an inlet to the cyclonic separator and a shroud comprising a wall having a plurality of through-holes forming an outlet from the cyclonic separator; 
 a plurality of separate passageways provided immediately downstream of the through-holes; 
 a further cyclonic separator provided downstream of the cyclonic separator and comprising a plurality of cyclones in parallel, and 
 an intermediate cyclonic separator provided downstream of the cyclonic separator and upstream of the further cyclonic separator.